Water stored in a reservoir of a hydroelectric power station is a common source of…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Work and Energy · Work and Energy

Problem

Water stored in a reservoir of a hydroelectric power station is a common source of mechanical energy. Consider the following situation and answer the questions: (a) A mass of

3.0\times10^{8}\,\text{kg}

of water is stored behind a dam at a height of

150\,\text{m}

above the turbines. Calculate the mechanical energy available from this water with respect to the turbine level. Take

g = 9.8\,\text{m\,s}^{-2}

. (b) The same volume of water is imagined to be stored at the same height on the Moon where

g_{\text{moon}} = 1.6\,\text{m\,s}^{-2}

. Calculate the mechanical energy available in this case. (c) Briefly comment on how the difference in the two answers would affect the electric power output if identical turbines were used on Earth and on the Moon.

Related theory

Potential Energy
Gravitational potential energy
Conservation of energy
Work, energy and power
Conservation of energy; conservative and non-conservative forces
Work and Energy

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